Location monitoring and transmitting device, method, and computer program product using a simplex satellite transmitter

ABSTRACT

A device, method, and computer program product for monitoring and transmitting a location and a local status of a remote device using a simplex satellite transmitter. The monitoring device includes a position location unit, a simplex satellite transmitter, a power source, and a controller. The position location unit is configured to determine a location of the remote device. The simplex satellite transmitter is configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit. The controller includes a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/656,133 filed Sep. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.7,099,770. The entire contents of this application are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the monitoring of mobile and remoteendpoint devices over a very large area of service.

2. Discussion of the Background

Asset management is a critical part of any business entity engaged inthe transfer of raw or finished goods. It is important to carefullymanage resupply of raw materials to ensure that the manufacturing orservice element of an industry does not halt and to carefully managetransportation of finished goods to minimize inventory held for sale.Those companies that do not optimize manufacturing and materialshandling are at a significant disadvantage.

The uncertainty associated with raw materials and finished goods intransit presents a problem in asset management. Companies generallyoperate with an element of uncertainty as to the exact time of deliveryor location of pending delivery for products and raw materials intransit. Unforeseen conditions impacting the arrival of truck, rail, orother vessel deliveries are impossible to predict and difficult tomodel. Real-time information about material in transit can be used toforecast deliveries, schedule manpower and other materials, and predictfinished goods inventory supply.

The transportation industry estimates in excess of 40 billion dollars ayear in cargo theft lost in transit. Loss of cargo happens in a widevariety of ways, from employee/driver theft to the organized capture ofentire fleets of trailers and rail-cars. The transportation industry hasbeen struggling to limit loss through radio communication means for overa decade. The cellular telephone industry has enabled a host ofcommunications products that are making an impact. These productsprovide many functions from standard voice communication data servicessuch as Internet or E-mail, and real-time position reporting and statusof vehicle operations such as speed, temperature, or brake conditions.

Conventional solutions typically rely on cellular communication systemsor satellite communication systems. Existing technology solutions thatrely on cellular coverage are generally not ubiquitous in coverage.Cellular coverage may be adequate for urban and major interstate routesbut becomes unreliable in rural or sparsely populated regions.Additionally, a cellular network implemented primarily for voicecommerce is a poor solution for rail or vessel transportation datacommunication. Also, as cellular technology advances, the protocols havetransitioned from analog to digital and now to tri-band Global Systemfor Mobile Communication (GSM). Thus, some communications systemsdeveloped only a few years ago are already obsolete.

Additionally, cellular communication asset management systems areinherently two-way in nature and thus require continuous line power foroperation. This type of system does not operate effectively on batterypower only without periodic reconnection to line power such as theautomotive power system.

Satellite based communication systems mitigate some of the problemsassociated with cellular asset management devices. For instance,satellite modems are not limited to the service coverage area ofcellular telephone corridors. Instead, the area of service is related tothe satellite system selected for use and thereby solves the problem ofrural and vessel coverage.

Satellite asset management systems are preferred if the communicationsystem can provide adequate information bandwidth to support theapplication requirements. Generally, satellite asset management systemsare the successors of cellular systems and offer broadband feature setssuch as Internet and voice over Internet-Protocol. Broadband satelliteservices are typically expensive and generally prone to communicationfailures due to weather and obstruction. Most asset management systemswhich utilize broadband satellite must package broadband services suchas voice, or Internet in order to justify the cost of the data bandwidtheven though the information for asset management is generallylow-bandwidth in nature. This drives the cost of satellite-based assetmanagement systems up in order to package enough value to offset cost.

Additionally, the transmit power required to communicate togeo-stationary satellites imposes power system problems for a remoteasset management device. Existing satellite asset management systemsgenerally must incorporate transmit power amplifiers of up to 10 Wattsto adequately operate. As most satellite communication systems imposetightly controlled spectral masks, digital communication systems mustincorporate linear or nearly linear (Class A or Class AB) poweramplifier architectures to prevent spectral regrowth. As a result, thetransmit device must be designed to produce up to 10 Watts withamplifier architectures which are typically only 40% efficient. Thiscreates difficult design limitations which predominately requiresufficient line power or high-density bulky battery systems to function.

Currently, satellite-based asset management systems use satellitearchitectures that are duplex in nature. In order to send data over asatellite, the remote device must generally negotiate a data channel.Even if the data is only one-way in nature, the communication modem mustcontain both receive and transmit capability to implement thisnegotiation.

Remote asset management devices must both listen and transmit in orderto facilitate data transfer to and from a remote device.

Both cellular and two-way satellite asset management systems requireavailable line power or extensive battery systems to operate. Evenexisting systems equipped with low power operational states must utilizeexcessive power to manage two-way communications as well as transmitwith sufficient energy to operate within the communicationsinfrastructure.

Existing asset management devices are generally located on thetractor-cab of the truck, train or vessel. This serves to locate thecargo while the load is attached. Unfortunately, when a load such as thetrailer, rail-car, or barge is disconnected, the important informationthat provides value for asset management is lost. Trailers that getdropped-off by a driver may become lost for hours or days possiblyresulting in the total loss of perishable loads, or missing deadlinesfor non-perishable loads that are often time critical. Thus, inventorymanagement becomes difficult and highly labor intensive to minimizemisplaced loads.

Rail-car tracking systems generally lag in capability behind trucking.While rail-cars remain on class 1 lines, the owners typically know whenthe rail-cars have passed checkpoints using barcode or visualidentification systems, but once the rail-cars are placed on class 2 orclass 3 lines there is generally no real-time tracking. Additionally,customers often use rail-cars as temporary storage thereby delayingoffloading goods to maintain an average amount of storage of goods atthe cost of the rail-fleet owner. Rail-fleet owners have a difficulttime assessing demurrage charges because they may not know if therail-car has been offloaded on schedule or where the rail-car iscurrently located. As a result, the only solution generally applied isto add new cars to the fleet to satisfy logistic problems of movinggoods.

Barge and vessel owners generally are dependent on river pilots anddeep-sea vessel operators for the location of goods using voicecommunication only. As such, commodity traders usually maintain a staffof logistics personnel to voice-track products as they are moved. Aradio-telemetry product that works without a cellular infrastructure andwithout the requirement of available power can thus dramatically reducethe reliance of pilots and logistics staff.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is thus an unmet need in the art for an asset management devicethat operates on an internal battery and provides years of service,utilizes satellite communication with a world-wide footprint, integratesGlobal Positioning Satellite service (GPS) providing world-wide locationdetermination, and provides for external data such as alarms and rawuser data to enable endpoint monitoring status beyond location.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a device,method, and computer program product to provide efficient and reliablelocation determination for remote assets and transmission of thedetermined location to a simplex satellite transmitter.

To that end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status ofmobile assets that includes a position location unit, a simplexsatellite transmitter, a power source, and a controller. The positionlocation unit is configured to determine a location of a remote device.The simplex satellite transmitter is configured to transmit the locationto one or more satellites in low earth orbit. The controller includes apower management unit configured to control a power state of theposition location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter, and toperiodically enable and disable power from the power source to theposition location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod for monitoring a remote status of mobile assets that includesdetermining a location of a remote device on an interval schedule,transmitting the location using a simplex satellite transmitter to oneor more satellites in low earth orbit, receiving at least one of aplurality of alarm inputs, configuration parameters, and external datafrom an external data unit, and managing power to reduce powerconsumption.

In yet another configuration of the present invention local sensors maybe used to change the report rate or operation of the device. Thepresent invention incorporates means to trigger alternate operationalmodes based on motion detection, location detection, alarm detection, orline power detection. The ability to engage and disengage alternateoperational modes has significant utility since the satellitecommunications are simplex. Duplex systems may be commanded to modifybehavior, whereas the simplex system of the present invention must relyon initial configuration and smart, local determination of alternatefunction.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is amounting tab provided for securing the device enclosure. The mountingtab has a surface and a V-cut molded into the surface forming adeflection. The mounting tab is molded into the device enclosure suchthat the removal of the mounting tab is enabled through deflection ofthe mounting tab.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided alow-profile weather-proof enclosure device that has a base wall, a lidsecured to the base wall, and a gasket positioned between the base walland the lid. The lid includes an overlapping wall which overlaps thebase wall and extends below the gasket. The overlapping wall providesrigidity and a water barrier to the gasket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a battery powered remote endpoint assetmanagement device capable of ascertaining its location and relaying thelocation to an external satellite network according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery powered remote endpoint assetmanagement device with additional functionality shown including powermanagement, external local data collection, and unit configurationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the remote asset device depicting efficientpower management according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the remote asset device depicting externalalarm and data as event stimuli according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is an operational illustration of the field device initiationprocedure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a typical water-tight enclosureknown in the prior art; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a novel low-profile water-tightenclosure and mounting design according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, preferredembodiments of the present invention are described.

FIG. 1 illustrates the functional blocks of a battery operated endpointdevice suitable for the remote asset management of equipment orfacilities. Enclosure 102 depicts the physical enclosure of the assetmanagement device. Internal to the enclosure 102 is a battery 106 usedto power the location determination device 103. The locationdetermination device 103 may be any method in the art for ascertainingthe location of the endpoint device. For example, the locationdetermination device 103 may derive the location using inertialnavigation, barcode scan for waypoints, radio telemetry for fixedwaypoints, or satellite. The present invention performs this locationdetermination function using a GPS receiver to triangulate locationbased on a GPS satellite constellation 101. Once the location has beenascertained by a location determination function, the locationinformation is transmitted using a simplex satellite transmitter 104 tothe satellite system 105. Simplex communication is well known to thoseskilled in the art as a form of one-way communication that provides foronly a transmit or receive path between two network components. Theefficiencies of a simplex one-way satellite transmitter may be utilizedto send data to a satellite constellation such as one operating in lowearth orbit (LEO). The LEO satellites each operate as bent-pipe relaydevices, receiving RF energy and retransmitting the energy back towardsearth for eventual reception on the ground by receiver gateways. Thedata may be distributed from the receiver gateways to end users using avariety of other terrestrial communication networks, such as theInternet. Battery 106 is a power source local to the device and providespower to the remote asset management device.

FIG. 2 adds capability to the remote asset management device of FIG. 1.As in FIG. 1, the remote asset management device 202 contains a locationdetermination device such as a GPS receiver 203 which receives signalsfrom the GPS satellite constellation 201. As before, this function mayalso be accomplished in a variety of ways, but a GPS locationdetermination is preferred. Simplex satellite transmitter 204 relaysinformation about the remote asset management device to the satelliteconstellation 205. An external configuration interface is provided viathe Optional External Interface 209 to allow user modification ofconfiguration parameters of the remote asset management device.

Remote asset management device 202 includes a host interface controller207 which performs several functions that add utility to the endpointdevice. The primary function of the host interface controller 207 ispower management and therefore the host interface controller 207contains an algorithmic engine capable of enabling and disabling thefunctional blocks of the remote asset management device 202. The hostinterface controller 207 can therefore connect the battery 206 of theremote asset management device 202 to the GPS receiver 203 and simplexsatellite transmitter 204 and the Optional External Interface 209 toperform the functions as necessary, and disable all functionality to setthe unit into a low power state. While in a low power state, the hostinterface controller 207 may utilize a wakeup timer to resume processingat the end of the configured time interval. For example, the hostinterface controller 207 may be configured to wake hourly, ascertain acurrent location using GPS receiver 203, transmit the current locationusing the simplex satellite transmitter 204, and then resume a low powerstate. This process may be repeated throughout the service life of theremote asset management device thereby preserving the battery 206.

Optionally, the host interface controller 207 may be configured tomonitor an external power source and select a power source between theexternal power source and the internal power source using a powerselector switch 208. In this manner, the internal battery 206 is usedonly when an external power source is unavailable, thereby furtherpreserving the battery 206.

Also optionally, the host interface controller 207 may contain anexternal data interface 209 that allows the endpoint remote assetmanagement device to monitor external alarm inputs to be included in thesatellite transmitted signal. External alarm inputs may be monitoredeven while in a low power state. Alarm inputs trigger the host interfacecontroller 207 to initiate event messaging in a variety of ways.Minimally, the alarm inputs are detected and stored as data to betransmitted subsequently at the next scheduled transmission interval.Alternatively, the host interface controller 207 may detect alarm inputsand immediately transmit the alarm, alarm with location, engage analternate operation, or any combination of these actions.

The host interface controller 207 may also monitor the external datainterface 209 for other data input such as sensor data or other userdata generated by an external apparatus. The external data may betransmitted as the satellite message or appended to location data. Thehost interface controller 207 may be configured to accept externalconfiguration data in the form of configuration parameters from theconfiguration interface, provide local output signals to control theexternal apparatus, or signal internal functions to an outsideapparatus.

The GPS receiver 203 and satellite transmitter 204 may be activated on aprogrammed schedule configured during manufacture or using aconfiguration interface. FIG. 3 illustrates the primary functions ofthis time-based scheduled activity. The functions of the host interfacecontroller 207 are represented by controller 303. An event table 301 isused to schedule the time for the next location determination. Intervaltimer 302 which operates continuously and even while the device is inthe low power state, has the ability to wake the controller 303 from alow power state. The controller 303 can then determine if the time ofwaking is coincident to a time of action stored in the event table 301.If the controller 303 makes that determination, it ascertains thelocation using the GPS receiver 306. The GPS receiver 306 is thenreturned to a low power state, the satellite transmitter 304 isactivated, and location data is transmitted for external use through thesimplex satellite transmitter 304.

The simplex satellite transmitter may be used to redundantly transmitsimplex data. Redundant transmission of simplex data to improvereliability of data, described in Arthur et al. (U.S. Pat. No.4,977,577) and Sanderford et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,058), which areincorporated by reference herein, is a technique known in the art.

The device hardware and event timing settings are preprogrammed into thedevice during manufacture or may be programmed into the device using aconfiguration interface. FIG. 4 expands on the basic functionality shownin FIG. 3 to include external alarm and data as event stimuli.Controller 403 uses timer 402 to trigger scheduled events stored inevent table 401. As before, the controller 403 may ascertain a locationusing location determination function 406 and transmit the locationinformation using the simplex satellite transmitter 404. Event table 401is implemented as either a table of delay intervals executed in sequenceor a table of time-of-day entries. The controller 403 ascertains theproper time to perform a function based on a time value and an expectedtable of time of events.

The controller 403 also monitors for external alarm stimuli using alarmdetection function 407. Alarm inputs may be acted upon in a variety ofways as enabled by its setup using a configuration interface. Alarms maybe independently enabled or disabled. If enabled, the presence of analarm may initiate an immediate simplex satellite message transmissionalerting the monitoring system that an alarm has occurred.Alternatively, the presence of an alarm may initiate an immediatelocation determination followed by a simplex message transmissionalerting the monitoring system that an alarm has occurred with anaccompanied location. Alarms may be configured for detection on thebeginning of the alarm condition, the end of the alarm condition, orboth.

Still another configuration for alarm processing is defined as aninterval-override. An interval-override replaces the standard eventtable 401 with an alternate table 405 whereby the controller 403suspends comparing the time data from the timer 402 to the standardevent table 401 and begins comparing the time against the alternateevent table 405. In this way, the remote asset management device mayengage a different rate or schedule of messaging triggered by anexternal stimuli alarm. Several different interval-override methods maybe employed. For instance, if enabled, the device may suspend theprogrammed schedule for reporting a location and instead engage anhourly location report for either 12 or 24 hours. Following completionof the interval-override duration, the remote asset management deviceresumes operating using the standard interval schedule. Alternatively,the remote asset management device may be configured with a custominterval and a custom duration using the configuration interface. Stillanother interval-override configuration is possible where the remoteasset management device uses a custom interval of reporting only whilethe alarm is active.

An integral motion detection sensor 408 may also be incorporated wherebythe controller 403 can determine if the remote asset management deviceis not stationary. A combination of both hardware and software may beutilized as debounce logic to ascertain a true or false state for motionand to limit false alarms. The controller monitors this state andhandles it as an external alarm input triggering instant messaging,location messaging, or interval-override as discussed above.

Another interval override trigger may be location driven. The device mayengage use of the alternate schedule based on determination of physicallocation as derived from the GPS receiver 406. The device may beconfigured to engage in a new rate when found to be within or outside arange of locations set up at time of installation or manufature.

The controller 403 also monitors for the presence of external datathrough the data interface 409. External data may be presented to thecontroller 403 for subsequent transmission through the satellitetransmitter 404. Alternatively, the location determination derived fromthe location determination function 406 may be appended to the externaldata.

In another embodiment of the remote asset management device, theoutgoing messages to the simplex satellite transmitter are queued andsubsequently transmitted when a block of data is collected. The devicemay be configured to pack up to 4 messages before transmitting themessages as a block to reduce the amount of on-air traffic to thesatellite system as each transmission also contains header (leader)information that accompanies the data of interest. The redundant headerinformation may be reduced 1:4 using this technique.

Years of service life may be provided through careful operational use oflow power states. When the device is not in operational use, it may beplaced in a low power state. While in a low power state, the devicemonitors the alarm input interface for activity. Any alarm detected atthe alarm interface is interpreted by the device as a signal to enterrun mode and begin operational service. One or more alarm inputs may besimultaneously monitored to wake the device from the low power state.The device detects which of the alarm inputs generated the wake signal,then implements a separate mode of operation based on the alarm.

FIG. 5 illustrates a field remote asset management device initiationprocedure implemented in the remote asset management device. A simplecable 501 is used by the operator to initiate service life of the remoteasset management device 502. The cable electrically shorts one of thealarms to ground, causing the internal controller to detect and wakefrom the low power state. The cable is pre-configured to a specificalarm or selectable using a dial or other mechanical selection device.The field installer affixes the cable to the remote asset managementdevice 502 at the interface connector 504 and depresses a push-button503 to force the alarm. The remote asset management device 502 wakesfrom the low power state, detects the alarm, and begins executing theprogram associated with the wake alarm. The wake alarm featureeliminates the need to have computers or other communication devices forfield installation. The initiation process above may be accomplishedelectrically as discussed, magnetically using an internal reed switch oroptically using an internal optical receiver. In each case, the remoteasset management device receives the signal and transitions from a lowpower state to an operational state. Alternatively, a configurationinterface may be used to initiate service life. An external computer orother communication device may instruct the device to engage run mode.Additionally, the remote asset management device may initiate run modeby either alarm initiation or commanded initiation.

The remote asset management device begins its service life by sending aredundant message containing the internal configuration of the device.This allows for the network operators to detect a new device as well asnote the configuration of the new device for subsequent use.

A one-time delay-to-start interval following wake may also be employedby the remote asset management device. The delay-to-start interval mayspan many days and essentially inserts a delay of time before routinescheduled messaging thereby allowing alignment of a schedule to aspecific time of the day or month or other time-base. The delay-to-startinterval may be factory set or configured using a configurationinterface.

The remote asset management device may be configured to provide routineunsolicited statistics of operation on a programmed interval schedule todetermine the ongoing health status of the endpoint device. Informationsuch as average or cumulative runtime per event, low battery detection,number of events to date and other device specific statistics are madeavailable to allow a determination of whether the endpoint is operatingas expected.

The remote asset management device is mechanically designed to be lowprofile in height. One of the largest utility markets for the device isin tractor-trailer asset management, where the device is physicallymounted to the roof of the tractor or the roof of the trailer. Themaximum physical height is always a concern and thus requires a very lowprofile.

The unit enables field replacement of the internal battery whileproviding protection from years of weather and driven rain. The thinprofile of the remote asset management device creates a problem for theeven distribution of pressure to the weather-seal of the lid. Typicalweather-tight boxes, as shown in FIG. 6 of the prior art, use a gasket605 compressed between a lid 603 and a base 602 to form a barrier toprevent water from penetrating to the inside of the box 601. The sectioncut of the box, as depicted in FIG. 6, shows how standard water-tightboxes are generally constructed to create a water-barrier. The base wall604 and the lid wall 606 are tall enough to distribute the pressureevenly along the seal gasket. The necessary walls 604 and 606 increasethe overall height of the box as they are additive. If the height of thelid wall 606 were reduced to place the gasket at the lid level, the lidwall 606 would no longer be able to provide rigidity along the length ofthe gasket as the lid itself will flex between compression points. Thelid wall 606 and the base wall 604 serve to provide this rigidity andare therefore necessary for proper gasket seal.

As shown in FIG. 7, the interior of the box 701 of the remote assetmanagement device is protected from water intrusion between a lid 703and a base 702 using a gasket 705. A base wall 704 compresses the gasket705 as the lid is screwed to the base at several compression pointsalong the box. A lid wall 706 is offset from general enclosure design tothe outside of the base wall 704. The lid wall 706 provides the rigidityto distribute the pressure evenly along the gasket 705 betweencompression points while not adding to the overall height of the box. Asmall cutout of the lid wall 706 is provided in the lid casting toenable the interface connector to be positioned in the base wall 704.Two compression points on either side of the interface connector provideadequate pressure along the gasket where the lid wall 706 height isreduced. The overlapping lid wall 706 also provides a physical barrierto directed water. As the remote asset management device is intended forvehicular use, it must survive directed water of pressure hose anddriven rain while moving at speed. The overlapping lid wall 706 not onlydistributes the gasket compression load, but also serves as a physicalbarrier protecting the gasket 705 from direct water exposure.Additionally, the base 702 is molded to include mounting provisions forthe remote asset management device. The mounting tabs 707 are moldedinto the base with a V-cut 708 at the base connection point. The V-cutprovides for clean break-away of the mounting tabs if not desiredwithout violating the water integrity of the enclosure. The mountingtabs are pre-drilled to enable use of screws or bolts to affix thedevice for service. The mounting tabs are designed to be break-away asthe remote asset management device is sufficiently light in weight toenable use of adhesives for mounting. If adhesives are used, themounting tabs may be removed. This configuration reduces the number ofcompression points while maintaining a water-tight seal, and maintains alow overall height while leaving at least one wall of sufficientdimension to accommodate an external interface connector.

This invention conveniently may be implemented using a conventionalgeneral purpose computer or microprocessor programmed according to theteachings of the present invention, as will be apparent to those skilledin the computer art. Appropriate software can readily be prepared byprogrammers of ordinary skill based on the teachings of the presentdisclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art.

A general-purpose computer may be used to implement the method of thepresent invention, wherein the computer housing houses a motherboardwhich contains a CPU, memory (e.g., DRAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, SRAM,SDRAM, and Flash RAM), and other optional special purpose logic devices(e.g., ASICS) or configurable logic devices (e.g., GAL andreprogrammable FPGA). The computer also includes plural input devices,(e.g., keyboard and mouse), and a display card for controlling amonitor. Additionally, the computer may include a floppy disk drive;other removable media devices (e.g. compact disc, tape, and removablemagneto optical media); and a hard disk or other fixed high densitymedia drives, connected using an appropriate device bus (e.g., a SCSIbus, an Enhanced IDE bus, or an Ultra DMA bus). The computer may alsoinclude a compact disc reader, a compact disc reader/writer unit, or acompact disc jukebox, which may be connected to the same device bus orto another device bus.

As stated above, the system includes at least one computer readablemedium. Examples of computer readable media are compact discs, harddisks, floppy disks, tape, magneto optical disks, PROMs (e.g., EPROM,EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc. Stored on any one or on acombination of computer readable media, the present invention includessoftware for controlling both the hardware of the computer and forenabling the computer to interact with a human user. Such software mayinclude, but is not limited to, device drivers, operating systems anduser applications, such as development tools. Computer program productsof the present invention include any computer readable medium whichstores computer program instructions (e.g., computer code devices) whichwhen executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the method ofthe present invention. The computer code devices of the presentinvention can be any interpretable or executable code mechanism,including but not limited to, scripts, interpreters, dynamic linklibraries, Java classes, and complete executable programs. Moreover,parts of the processing of the present invention may be distributed(e.g., between (1) multiple CPUs or (2) at least one CPU and at leastone configurable logic device) for better performance, reliability,and/or cost.

The invention may also be implemented by the preparation of applicationspecific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriatenetwork of conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

1. A monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status of mobileassets, comprising: a position location unit configured to determine alocation of a remote device; a simplex satellite transmitter configuredto transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit; apower source; a controller including a state detection unit configuredto detect a change of state; and a power management unit configured tocontrol a power state of the position location unit and the simplexsatellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power fromthe power source to the position location unit and the simplex satellitetransmitter, wherein the power management unit is further configured todisable power and then enable power on a first interval schedule, thecontroller is further configured to control the position location unitto determine the location and to control the simplex satellitetransmitter to transmit the location on the first interval schedule, andthe controller, upon detection of state change by the state detectionunit, is configured to disable power and then to enable power on asecond interval schedule.
 2. The monitoring device of claim 1, whereinthe position location unit comprises a GPS receiver subsystem.
 3. Themonitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises abattery.
 4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein each of the one ormore satellites operates as a bent-pipe relay device.
 5. The monitoringdevice of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises: an externalinterface having at least one of a plurality of alarm inputs, aconfiguration interface configured to receive modifications toconfiguration parameters, and an external data unit configured toreceive external data, wherein the power management unit is furtherconfigured to control a power state of the external interface and toperiodically enable and disable power from the power source to theexternal interface.
 6. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein thecontroller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality ofalarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to control thesimplex satellite transmitter to transmit alarm data.
 7. The monitoringdevice of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect atleast one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of analarm input, to enable power to the simplex satellite transmitter andthe position location unit, and to control the position location unit todetermine the location and the simplex satellite transmitter to transmitthe location and the alarm data.
 8. The monitoring device of claim 5,wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of theplurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, toenable power to the external interface.
 9. The monitoring device ofclaim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one ofthe plurality of alarm inputs while power to the external interface isdisabled, and upon detection of an alarm input while power to theexternal interface is disabled, to enable power to the externalinterface.
 10. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controlleris configured to detect modifications to a predetermined set ofconfiguration parameters, and upon detection of modifications to one ofthe predetermined set of configuration parameters, to modify operationin accordance with the modified configuration parameters.
 11. Themonitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured todetect external data from an external data unit, and upon detection ofexternal data, to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmitthe external data.
 12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to queue transmissions to the simplex satellitetransmitter and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmitthe queued transmissions as a block to reduce on-air traffic.
 13. Themonitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured tocontrol the simplex satellite transmitter to periodically transmit ahealth status of the remote device.
 14. The monitoring device of claim1, wherein the controller is configured to control the position locationunit to determine the location and the simplex satellite transmitter totransmit the location upon detection by the state detection unit ofmotion.
 15. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit afirst state change detection message upon a detection by the statedetection unit of a first state change followed by a second statechange.
 16. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit asecond state change message upon detection by the state detection unitof the second state change followed by the first state change.
 17. Themonitoring device of claim 1, further comprising: a securing device fora device enclosure including: a mounting dab having a surface and aV-cut molded into the surface forming a deflection, and wherein themounting tab is molded into the device enclosure such that the removalof the mounting dab is enabled through deflection of the mounting tab.18. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising: a low-profileweather-proof enclosure device including: a base wall; a lid secured tothe base wall; and a gasket positioned between the base wall and thelid, wherein the lid includes an overlapping wall which overlaps thebase wall and extends below the gasket, and wherein the overlapping wallprovides rigidity and a water baffler to the gasket.
 19. The monitoringdevice of claim 18, wherein said low-profile weather-proof enclosuredevice comprises: break-away mounting gabs secured to the base wall. 20.The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configuredto detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upondetection of an alarm input, to enable or disable an alternate intervalschedule for transmit of information.
 21. The monitoring device of claim1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a trigger location,and upon detection of trigger location, to enable or disable analternate interval schedule for transmit of information.
 22. Themonitoring device of claim 1, further comprising an external interfacefor communicating with one or more devices.
 23. The monitoring device ofclaim 22, wherein the power management unit is further configured tocontrol a power state of the external interface and to periodicallyenable and disable power from the power source to the externalinterface.
 24. A method for monitoring a remote status of mobile assets,comprising: a) determining a location of a remote device; b)transmitting the location using a simplex satellite transmitter to oneor more satellites in low earth orbit; c) receiving at least one of aplurality of alarm inputs, configuration parameters, and external datafrom an external data unit; d) managing power to periodically performsteps a)-c) on a first interval schedule, wherein the managing stepcomprises: detecting a change of state, and upon detection of the changeof state, managing power to periodically perform steps a)-c) on a secondinterval schedule.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: e)transmitting the alarm data using the simplex satellite transmitter toone or more satellites in low earth orbit upon receiving at least one ofthe plurality of alarm inputs.
 26. A computer program product configuredto store plural computer program instructions which, when executed by acomputer, cause the computer to perform the steps recited in any one ofclaims 24 or 25.